<div class="article_title" >Satellite Wins Some, Loses Some at the FCC</div>

<div class="article" ><br>The <span style="font-weight: bold;">FCC</span> has made some determinations on how to implement the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA) and the results are a mixed bag for satellite.<br><br>On the good news side, DBS subscribers have finally been granted the same
rights long enjoyed by cable subscribers as the Commission revised "significantly viewed" rules. The revisions mean that, like cable subscribers, satellite subs can now receive "significantly viewed" out-of-market broadcast stations so long as they also receive the in-market station
via their satellite provider. Thus <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nielsen</span> DMA boundaries will no longer be the sole arbiter in what "local" stations a satellite sub can, or cannot, receive. Plus, <span style="font-weight: bold;">DIRECTV</span> and <span style="font-weight:
bold;">DISH</span> will no longer be barred from delivering the HD signal of a "significantly viewed" station just because the Nielsen-designated "local station" does not make HD versions available. <br><br>On the bad news side, the FCC sided mostly with broadcasters in saying that
outdoor antennas – not the much-more common indoor antennas – will be used to determine if a household can receive a local signal over the air. The determination appears mainly based on the argument that indoor antennas present too many variables ... that is, it would be too hard to
set up standards. Which means, of course, that it will be much more difficult for households to gain "unserved" status when seeking access to distant broadcast signals.<br><br>Still, even the bad wasn't all bad as the FCC left some leeway for determining signal strength, albeit via outdoor
antennas only. Said a DIRECTV spokesman of the FCC rulings: "We are pleased that the FCC has established rules that allow us to provide significantly viewed stations under similar terms as cable, giving subscribers in these areas additional competitive choices. We also welcome the
Further Notice on the antenna standard to improve its accuracy. We want to ensure that when our subscribers are unable to receive a local signal, either through us or over-the-air, that they can get their network programming."• <P>
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<div class="article" ><br><span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">OTT Round 1 to Broadcasters</span>: The broadcasters have won round one of their fight v. <span style="font-weight: bold;">FilmOn.com</span> which has been streaming broadcast signals via the internet under what some
consider a unique interpretation of the copyright law. Needless to say, the broadcasters don't like the interpretation and now a judge in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York</span> has issued a temporary restraining order.
That doesn't bode well for today's other "copyright-payments-make-us-a-cable-co" contestant,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> ivi TV</span>, and the big Bs are pushing hard to have that case too transferred to southern NY. (ivi has filed a suit seeking to validate its
interpretation in Seattle.) In response to the judgment, FilmOn says it has ceased transmission of the broadcast nets but notes it "received more than 30M individual users" since first providing free access via mobile devices. The argument will continue but, for the moment, FilmOn
says it will carry on, offering content from its own library and those of its partners. <br><span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br>Up in the Sky</span>: The new SBCA Board is going to look a whole lot like the old board as <span style="font-weight:
bold;">CASE-SRS</span>' <span style="font-style: italic;">Michael Scherr</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">DSI</span>'s <span style="font-style: italic;">Dave Robison</span> and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> INSTALLS Inc</span>'s <span style="font-style: italic;">Lee Hess</span> have been
reelected to three year terms. Also reelected were <span style="font-weight: bold;">DIRECTV</span>'s <span style="font-style: italic;">Andrew Reinsdorf </span>as Chairman and <span style="font-style: italic;">DISH</span>'s <span style="font-style: italic;">Jeff Blum</span> as Vice-Chairman,
both for one year terms<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Programming</span>: You knew it had to be coming ... the first 3D TV program to focus on the paranormal and unexplained is heading toward U.S. households in the form of "Anomaly" from <span
style="font-weight: bold;">Majestic 7 Media Partners</span>. Watch for the premiere in early 2011 on internet-based VOD purveyor <span style="font-weight: bold;">Next3DTV</span>. --- <span style="font-weight: bold;">DIRECTV Cinema </span>will offer a variety of 3D films this holiday season
including "Despicable Me," "Shrek Forever After," "The Last Airbender" and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Disney</span>'s "A Christmas Caro." --- <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Fibe TV</span>, a next-gen TV service from Canada's largest communications company, has added four
top-rated South Asian <span style="font-weight: bold;">STAR</span> channels and three STAR Mandarin-language channels from <span style="font-weight: bold;">News Corp.</span> to its service.<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">The Deal – Not So Fast!</span>
It's certainly prudent to have your plans in place before a merger closes ... but not so smart to do it publicly. In response to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Comcast</span>'s highly visible invasion of <span style="font-weight: bold;">NBC-U</span> exec offices,<span style="font-style:
italic;"> Sen. Al Franken</span> (D-MN) suggests that Comcast may have been "'gun jumping' in violation of the letter and spirit of federal antitrust law." <br><br style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Techs
& Services</span>: First the low end ... now the high end: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Time Warner Cable</span> has introduced a new "Signature Home" premium package which, for $189.99/month, which promises a personal service adviser plus on-call technicians. It's
all part of an audience segmenting strategy which is – so far – looking pretty smart. <br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">People</span>: Another defection from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Disney</span>'s interactive group as <span
style="font-style: italic;">Graham Hopper</span> announced his departure.<span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;"><br> <br> Happy Thanksgiving:</span> We'll be back on Monday the 29th ... have a great (long) weekend!• <P>
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<div class="article_title" >Letter to the Editor: On Time Warner Cable's "TV Essentials" Package</div>

<div class="article" ><br>I enjoyed your article about <span style="font-weight: bold;">Time Warner'</span>s new package, I see this company do this type of move over and over. I live in Greensboro, NC and though I walk through the valley of Time Warner one of these days I am going to kick their butt. Back in 1992
it was <span style="font-weight: bold;">ATC</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cablevision</span>. Then <span style="font-weight: bold;">Time</span> merged with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Warner Brothers</span> and poof, Time Warner was on a consolidation run. Now they have the
entire county (and the southeast for that matter). They have a far distant 2nd place contender with<span style="font-weight: bold;"> AT&T </span>and their DSL(band aid technology). Anybody remember <span style="font-weight: bold;">PrimeStar</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">TCI</span>
and the result? <br> <br> In 1997 <span style="font-weight: bold;">VocalTec</span> came out with VoIP, but it was not ready for prime time. The internet sat on the public switched network, too slow. In the late 90's the bandwidth exploded and poof, TWC launched VoIP and ate the phone
companies' lunch. <br> <br> Technology moves ahead and now we have OTT which isn't over the top but actually works. I have a rising 17 year old. No TV in his room. No matter. "Dad can I have a cheap flat panel monitor?" Ok. (His Mom doesn't want him to have a TV in his room) The next day
it is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hulu</span> and other providers in his room. My son ran an end run, he will probably never know a pay TV service. <br> <br> So are they still consolidating? They bought the spectrum for lower frequency wireless (the Holy Grail). It sounds like the
PrimeStar issue of October 1998, where the FCC stated PrimeStar could not have the satellite spectrum "because you are just tying up assets". Come on <span style="font-style: italic;">President</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Obama</span>, unleash more spectrum! <br> <br> So what is
in the crystal ball for Time Warner? Its all in the bandwidth.<br> <br> Living in the valley.<br> <br> I am,<br> <br> <span style="font-style: italic;">Dana T Moore, III</span><br> BSEE<br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">MBC Communications, Inc.</span> <P>
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